13 of Cobb County's 17 libraries will close May 1 (Atlanta, Smyrna: appointed, house)

[Zimbochick]

Yes, I also wonder how this just now came to light?

[Zimbochick]

Cobb budget gap closed without shutting libraries *| ajc.com

Cobb County Commissioners passed a mid-year budget revision Tuesday that requires furlough days and across-the-board cuts for county departments, but keeps libraries open.

[Humanista]

Originally Posted by syracusa

Shoot.
If they are not, we truly are about to move to a sh**ty place despite all the hype. Oh, East Cobb...East Snob...oh, the awesomeness of schools, oh the greatness of the area, oh the emphasis on ejuhkhation!
Oh how "upper-middle" class of everybody!

BS.

Any TRULY upper-middle to upper class person is also an educated person; and educated persons are usually voracious readers whose appetites for books can hardly be satisfied even by the highest of incomes or the largest of book-shelves in the home.
Educated people VALUE public libraries people.
Well-endowed public libraries.

It is a complete disgrace for East Cobb that they would allow themselves to sink that low. I am afraid it would just go to show who they really are: people with a bit of extra money who associate "education" with being able to buy big a** stuff. That would spell "HARDLY educated".

If East Cobb residents were 10% of who they fancy themselves to be, they would raise HELL on Earth for having their public libraries closed.

We are about to leave Massachusetts...but one thing I will miss tremendously is their incredible public libraries as well as their deep seated belief that money MUST BE found to fund public libraries SOLIDLY, come H or H water, huge taxes or not.

This is a GROSS generalization. I am a voracious reader as well - I probably go through 4 books a week - and I don't use the public libraries. Mostly, because I have never found one here that matched the quality of the one where I'm from in Connecticut, but I digress.

However, I would also be willing to pay more taxes to save the libraries. Just because I do not use them, does not mean I do not see the value the serve for others.

[912]

Originally Posted by Zimbochick

I don't believe this is a partisan issue. If you choose not to value education, then so be it.

Condescend much?

Here's a tip...teh interwebz, smartphones & items such as the Kindle have rendered libraries almost useless.

[Zimbochick]

Originally Posted by 912

Condescend much?

Here's a tip...teh interwebz, smartphones & items such as the Kindle have rendered libraries almost useless.

Yes, because we all know that kids, the elderly, and the impoverished have data plans and kindles. One of the most common library activities at present is computer usage for job searches. I know it's a shock, but libraries are there for all to use.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by 912

Here's a tip...teh interwebz, smartphones & items such as the Kindle have rendered libraries almost useless.

I disagree. Every time I go to the library they are packed. Libraries do a lot more than shelve books, too. They host community meetings. They afford web access to many who don't have it. They provide research and study facilities that go vastly beyond what you can do online. They loan movies and music. They host art exhibitions. They have author forums. They often house other services, such as ESL classes, GED programs, poetry workshops, and the Cooperative Extension Service.

Not to mention the basic fact that they are repositories of knowledge which encourage people to read and study, and provide a quiet, contemplative space for the community.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I disagree. Every time I go to the library they are packed. Libraries do a lot more than shelve books, too. They host community meetings. They afford web access to many who don't have it. They provide research and study facilities that go vastly beyond what you can do online. They loan movies and music. They host art exhibitions. They have author forums. They often house other services, such as ESL classes, GED programs, poetry workshops, and the Cooperative Extension Service.

Not to mention the basic fact that they are repositories of knowledge which encourage people to read and study, and provide a quiet, contemplative space for the community.

I think your views are a bit idealistic. But I agree with everything except research facilities. The only place you'll find real research facilities is in a university library. And even there, much of it is going on-line and Galileo provides Georgians with a good database. Public libraries are good for outdated entertainment material. Libraries are becoming public spaces and offer areas of social outreach. But really, we probably could do with fewer libraries not more. I believe in Fulton County there is a push for 8 new libraries and expansion of 2. No, if anything there should be a contraction and focus the locations to be near public transportation.

And it might take a little longer but I think internet access will be about as common as cable TV or phone service. Pretty much taken for granted everyone has except for the very poor or ultra-technophobic. I've embraced the internet more than ever as I now do most of my phone calls VoIP.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I think your views are a bit idealistic.

I'm having trouble figuring out how facts are idealistic.

The only thing idealistic about arjay's post is that sometimes libraries, despite the way they are romanticized, can often get as noisy as a dog kennel thanks to poor parenting.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I think your views are a bit idealistic. But I agree with everything except research facilities. The only place you'll find real research facilities is in a university library. And even there, much of it is going on-line and Galileo provides Georgians with a good database.

While Galileo is a great jumping off point and an excellent finding aid, you still have to look way beyond that if you're doing serious research.

Of course the university libraries are very important. But there are also excellent collections at the AFPL downtown, at the Auburn Avenue Research Library and the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. And elsewhere.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by JPD

I'm having trouble figuring out how facts are idealistic.

The only thing idealistic about arjay's post is that sometimes libraries, despite the way they are romanticized, can often get as noisy as a dog kennel thanks to poor parenting.

"Romanticized" pretty much covers it. As is often the case, the vision and reality are at odds. I'll always remember walking into the AFCL main branch and seeing urinal fresheners on the desktops. The place is so depressing.

Government run places that provide public services often look like rat holes. Maybe branches in the more affluent areas look nice but these days a case can be made that it is not needed or can be consolidated into a regional branch. We might be better off spending the money for electronic access rather than bricks and mortar bacteria and virus farms.

We grew up loving libraries so we support them out of habit and even encourage having more but maybe we'd better have an honest reassessment of their usefulness. Perhaps a few large regionals make more sense rather than dozens scattered over the county.